Dunno how I never got round to introducing myself earlier, but here goes . .I'm Merv Ruge, aka Finer Designer. I've spent my entire life in South East Queensland, Australia. (actually, that's not quite true as I've escaped several times to visit friends in New South Wales & Victoria as well as a cpl years in North Queensland that I don't remember) I'm a 4th generation Aussie of Danish descent. (surname rhymes with boogie-woogie) My native language is Strine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StrineI've been in the building trade since 1972. I was first registered as a House Builder in Queensland in 1982 and first licensed as a Building Designer soon after licensing of Building Designers was implemented in the mid-'90'shttp://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/online-licence-search/disclaimeragreedisagree.aspx, agree, Search for QBCC licensee, licence = 16779 then "Licensee's Full History"In the mid-eighties I did an Introduction to Computers course as I could see the need to use emerging technology. It was another 5 years before I actually bought a computer - a 2nd hand NEC APC Powermate II, iirc 16 MHz (with an 80287 math co-processor)When AU$ was only worth US$0.60 in 1986 I decided to try to cash-in a hobby. I'd found a way to propagate Platycerium Superbum (Staghorn Fern - not to be confused with Platycerium Bifurcatum, the Elkhorn Fern) in commercial quantities. They are epiphytic ferns grown from spores. However, by 1988 the Aussie Dollar had risen to buy US$0.88 so the project was no longer viable. Today (2011) it's floating around US$1.10

In 1988 I engaged a designer using DRCauto to prepare plans for a modern iteration of a Colonial Victorian style home with 3660 (12') ceilings. When he was unable to provide a perspective view I then found that a friend from my teenage years, Ian Smith, was also a building designer. He'd been using Autoplan (the fore-runner of Cadsoft APDesign) since it's first release.

1989 saw me become a single dad. Ian gave me the opportunity to reskill as a building designer.late 1994 I started my own design & documentation business. I purchased an APDesign licence from a builder in Newcastle that had gone bust. New computer system cost me $10k but it was faulty. Nothing like getting thrown in at the deep end to force one to learn to swim! 8 months later the manufacturer finally replaced the motherboard & my problems were over (well, sort of, I just didn't have any clients left) I've built all my desktops since then.

Until mid'96 my experiences with architects hadn't been exactly positive. All those I encountered seemed to work on the premise that "if I can draw it, they can build it" All that changed when I got a call from Darryl Parker Architects. They were planning a 200 unit resort at Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas in Far North Queensland The project architect treated me as an equal. They were using AutoCAD as an electronic drawing board and needed elevations generated in a hurry. A feature of the project was a wrap-over roof (barrell-vault of about 80m radius) truncated down one side in an S-shape and punctuated by 4 staggered hip roofs (with no ridges) along the other side. I no longer have the dwg file (archived to 1.44MB floppy) but have attached a scanned checkplot I found. I modelled the lot in APDesign. It really challenged my knowledge of the programme, especially the significance of the number 32767. (2^15)-1 in a 16bit environment

Late 1996 I was working in-house for Devine Homes when I thought I'd come down with the flu (in the middle of summer). I never really recovered. I have a diagnosis of M.E./CFS http://www.hfme.org/meoverview.htmThus began 2 of my biggest battles - against an unknown foe that the medical fraternity still doesn't understand and an insurer that will do anything to avoid it's obligations. (keywords ME/CFS AND Unum for examples of similar behaviour)I was so ill I put most of my possessions into storage & returned to Bundaberg where my parents cared for me for almost 2 years. Travelling by train to and from Brisbane for specialist appointments, I'd always take my Cadsoft Users Guide. Amazing what one can learn just by reading the manual! - and what some tools could be used for when one thinks "outside the square".

1999 I was contacted by a builder in New Hampshire for a "user review" of APDesign. He bought a copy & sent me a Logitech trackball for my trouble. It's still on my desk & still works! Thus began flashbacks to the imperial system of measurement that I'd grown up with (Australia metricated during the '70's) and my introduction to a whole lot of different construction methods.

In 2005 I decided I'd prefer to expend my limited energy doing something I love rather than fighting for justice. I heard that Cadsoft had opened up the Forum to just about anyone in August 2005. Because of my limited functionality I don't get through a huge range of jobs - which limits my experience - but helping others here makes up for that. (Cerebral hypo-perfusion & "brain fog" still significantly impair my functionality.)I'm unsure when I bought Envisioneer 2.5, but I was sold on the concept of dynamic dimensions & it's ability to accept input via bluetooth from a Disto Plus.

2007 I started doing most work in Env. Until that time I used Env to develop proposals then exported plans, elevations sections etc & still finished them off in APDesign.

2010 my younger son married so I decided to leave the pollution of the city & move to the Sunshine Coast hinterland in the hope that this will result in an improvement in my health. Being "a bit slow" can be a blessing in disguise. I'm sure that I'm able to think of more viable alternatives than I would if I was able to work full-time.

If you hadn't guessed by now, I'm really just an artist/story teller - translating someone's dream (whether mine or my client's) into words & pictures of what could be . . .If everything goes to plan, I then author a book of words, pictures & sometimes audio/visuals describing/detailing the process of how we move from dreams to reality.In essence, the more detailed the documentation, the smoother the process - for all concerned.

Told you I was slow . . . .forgot the attachments!Main roof in red, another curves perpendicular to it on 2 sides of the building to the right.All invisible 3DFaces have their edges displayed to facilitate insertion of timber underpurlins & truss top-chords composed of unequal angles back-to-back.

The company I work for recently purchased Envisioneer with the Construction Suite. Have had two training sessions but still don't have comfort level in manipulating catalogs and generating Materials Lists. Actually the drawing interface is a lot different than what I'm accustomed to and even that's a bit of a distraction.

I'll be posting questions I come up with. Hoping those with experience will share their answers.

Hi Merv,We're still using Chief Architect version X3 until we can get up to speed with the Construction Suite.

Have to say that the transition is painful.

So far I've spent two days trying to use Envisioneer to draw-up a 32 x24 Gambrel Garage. Of course I'm setting/verifying materials/assemblies usage at same time. But the tools for drawing in Envisioneer are really different. I find stsarting over is the best route when I end up with an alignment error from location to location.

Hello all...I am a complete newbie! Our training seminars are not until next week.I was a long time DataCAD user and am finding that drawing in Envisioneer is very different.Any help will be very much appreciated. I'm working on the accuracy right now.Linda

Hi!I'm Robert from Sweden, I'm a happy amateur then it come to house design, for many years have I used TFP 14 -16, the offspring to Envisioneer. I don't like TFP 17 how now is offspring to PUNCH, so now have I buy ProArchitect 1 and join this forum. I hope that I can contribute with some of my knowledge from TFP.I have attach my night version of background-Mountains image.

I've posted on here a about a dozen times now and read lots of helpful advise along the way, just found this section so I thought I would introduce myself.

My name is Caitlin Hutchison, I'm 25 and from Guelph, ON, Canada (yes the home of Cadsoft!) I work for my parents custom homes/renovations company (they also have a cabinet supply company). I went to school for Construction Engineering Technology Architecture but dropped out halfway through due to a dislike for classroom learning and a full time job at the time. That job was doing AutoCAD approval and fabrication drawings at a steel fabrication shop. Once the work environment went sour there I moved on and a job opened up with my parents as a Project Coordinator who would also do simple drawings of the renovations. We came across Envisioneer and liked it because of it's compatibility with 20-20 design which our kitchen designers use. I mostly do basic before plans and then options for renovations but also get into doing renderings of kitchens/bathrooms that we are quoting. About a year ago I switched from doing the Project Coordination to the Bookkeeping. My email signature reads "Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable/Drafting", don't imagine there are lots of those around! HaHa

Attached are some of the client renderings I have done. I'm still fine tuning the process and working on getting better quality renderings....and a better computer

Hi everyone,My name is Jim Herring (like the fish) and I am new to the CadSoft world.I have been in the construction field for over 40 yrs now and the world and the construction field have seen drastic changes.After 9 yrs of Drafting schooling from Jr High thru College my first pair of jobs (day & swing) I worked for a chemical process technology co (days/ mech assy, Q/A & everything else) and a membrane switch manuf.(swing/ drafting assist-mechanical troubleshooter & everything else)

Back then (the old days) we used vellum, mylar, napkins, butcher paper, the floor?, etc..(A.K.A..paper) to record our ideas, plans, scribbles and transmit ideas.

Due to a bad fall off a 2 story commercial roof in 2009 and torn tendons and ligaments in my right shoulder, arm and leg, no more hands on construction for me!

So, While recovering i continued working as a project super, project manager or doing everything else, and went back to school to learn CAD, AutoCad, Inventor, Mechanical, ACAD Architectural and now Pro Architect 3. Knowing so many people in Construction both residential & commercial has guided me to settle on the Architectural side of Drafting & Design. I've been doing as-builts, commercial office, and now more residential design. I am looking forward to learning and becoming proficient w CAdSoft products and I know all of you will be instrumental in that growth, so, Thank you in advance for your assistance!

Warmest Regards, Jim H.

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As Always, Any Assistance Is Very Much AppreciatedSpacebeagle (Jim Herring)As-Built Design & Construction Services